Antarctica: who actually owns it and what can you do there?

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Sandy beaches, coral reefs and swaying palms are the attributes most commonly associated with Australian islands, but those landing upon the shores of the country’s newly christened islets are more likely to see penguins than palm trees.

That’s because Crocodile Island, Rhino Island and Uranus Island – which are amongst 17 new islands to be added to Australia’s territory this week – lie in the icy depths of Antarctica.

They form part of the Australian Antarctica Territory, which is the largest territory on the continent claimed by any one nation.

Other countries with territorial claims over Antarctica include Britain, France, Norway, Argentina, Chile and New Zealand – with a large portion of this frozen landmass still unclaimed – but despite competing claims to Antarctica, the continent simultaneously belongs to nobody and everybody.

That’s according to the Antarctic Treaty, which came into force in 1961 and designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”, which it says must always be put before territorial disputes.

Any member of the United Nations can sign up to the treaty and membership has now reached 52, of which 28 are consultative parties with voting status. Consultative status is open to any country that can demonstrate its commitment to Antarctica by conducting significant research.

Antarctica has traditionally been the preserve of scientists and polar explorers – including Earnest Shackleton, Robert Scott and Roald Amundsen – but today as many as 40,000 hardy tourists arrive on the continent annually to marvel at the frozen wilderness.

Here are some of the more unusual things you can do in Antarctica:

Run a marathon

Yes, really. Brave (or mad?) runners from around the world make their way to the continent for the annual Antarctic Marathon, which takes place on King George Island, where sub zero temperatures and biting winds are par for the course.

A bemused penguin watches as a marathon runner passes byCredit:
GETTY

Send a postcard

The world’s most southerly post office can be found in Port Lockroy, a remote British outpost with more penguins than people. Established during World War II as part of Operation Tabarin, the station is also home to a small museum which receives roughly 18,000 visitors a year.

Have a spa

Deception Island is famously home to a crater lake where it is possible for visitors to bathe in thermal springs, which are heated by the volcano that formed the islands. If you don’t fancy a dip, the island is also home to the haunting remains of a British whaling station, which can be explored on foot.

Tourists bathe in the thermal springs of Deception IslandCredit:
GETTY

Take a cruise

“Most people visit Antarctica on a cruise ship,” explains Telegraph Travel’s destinations expert, Joanna Symons. “The IAATO website (iaato.org) lists all the operators cruising in the area, and while this includes some of the large mainstream cruise lines, I would strongly recommend opting for one of the smaller expedition ships carrying between 50 and 200 passengers.”

Admire the wildlife

The Antarctic’s feted fauna is of course the star attraction; visitors can expect to gaze upon elephant and Weddell seals, emperor, chinstrap and Adelié penguins and humpback and minke whales.

Adelie penguins jumping between two ice floesCredit:
AP/FOTOLIA

Scale Observation Hill

Located on Ross Island, Observation Hill is a 30-minute hike from the McMurdo research station and awards intrepid travellers with sublime views of Mount Erebus and the Ross Ice Shelf. This lofty vantage point is also home to the Memorial Cross erected in honour of Captain Robert Scott and his polar party, who succumbed to the elements on the Ross Ice Shelf.

Pop to the pub

The Vernadsky Research Base, a Ukranian Antarctic Station on Galindez Island, is famously home to a pub where you can enjoy wines, spirits and, apparently, bras, which for some reason festoon the bar. There are other bars in Antarctica, where scientists have reportedly been accused of drunkenness and debauchery.

A bartender at the Farady bar, part of the Vernadsky Research Base, waits for puntersCredit:
GETTY

Gaze at the night sky

Unspoiled by light pollution, Antarctica puts on one of the most exquisite cosmos displays on the planet. Gaze up on a clear night and marvel at the solar system in high definition.